IMO will be celebrating the fourth edition of its global campaign: Day of the Seafarer, held every year on 25 June.

Seafarers are the people without whom food, clothes, gifts, gadgets or even basic needs would not reach our doors. We rely on them every day. Yet have you ever said thank you to a seafarer? Chances are you haven't.

For this year’s campaign, we invite you to complete the sentence “Seafarers brought me………..” with a word denoting an object or something specific of your choosing – and if possible, to supplement this with a photo, video and/or written message and post it on the platform of your choice using the social media hashtag #thankyouseafarers

You can also voice your support on our virtual wall here: http://dayoftheseafarer2014.imo.org/

Watch and share the official video message from IMO Secretary-General shot in the port of Hamburg.

For step-by-step instructions on how to participate in campaign, download toolkit here.

Campaign Background

In 2010, the Diplomatic Conference which met in Manila to adopt milestone revisions to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the STCW Convention) and its associated Code, also agreed that the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole, should be marked annually with a ‘Day of the Seafarer’. The date chosen was 25 June, the day on which the amendments were formally adopted.

The campaign objectives are:

• to increase awareness among the general public of the indispensable services you render to international seaborne trade, the world economy and society at large;

• to send a clear message to you that we recognize and appreciate your services; that we understand the extraordinary conditions and circumstances of your profession; that we do care about you; and that we do all that we can to look after and protect you when the circumstances of your life at sea so warrant; and

• to redouble our efforts at the regulatory level to create a better, safer and more secure world in which you can operate.